Better With You (Better Love 2)

“Hi, Odette,” she says with a smile, then gives Ms. Beth a hug. “Hi, Ms. Beth.”

“Talia, darling,” Odette says with a smile. “So glad you can join us.”

Talia looks back at Riggs then. “Um, you weren’t answering your phone.” As if that explains everything. I’m still in the dark. She looks at me once more, and I realize I must be staring like a lunatic. I blink a few times because my eyes are dry, and then glance at Riggs.

He’s still stiff and not speaking. When he moves his eyes from Talia to me, I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. That look. The same one I saw at Bakery On Main the day of the cookie contest. The same one from Cheap Seats right before I dumped beer over his head.

Oh shit.

I look back at Talia, but she’s still staring at Riggs, and then Antony’s voice breaks in.

“Bailey, have you met our future daughter-in-law, Talia?” He gestures from her to me. “She goes to school at Butler, also. A dance major.”

My voice is a broken rasp. “Daughter-in-law?”

“Yes, Riggs’s fiancée.” He smiles at Talia who is now grimacing. “Still haven’t set a date, but we’re hoping to convince them to do it soon.”

My heartbeat is pounding in my ears. The ground is moving under my feet. Is that an earthquake? Is the high rise collapsing? My eyes find Talia’s left hand, and sure as shit, there’s a big stupid shiny diamond on her ring finger.

I look slowly at Riggs. “You’re engaged,” I whisper.

His mouth opens, then shuts. He looks from me to Talia, to his parents, then back.

“I... Bailey, I...”

I choke back a sob, my face flames, and I squeeze my eyes shut. I cannot cry here.

“I have to go.”

I turn and hightail it out of the living room, out the foyer door, and into the elevator. When the doors slide shut, the tears fall. As soon as my feet hit the concrete, I speed walk down the block, so I’m out of sight of the high rise and order an Uber. As I wait for the car, I call Ivy.

“Hey, B!” she chirps when she answers. There’s music playing in the background. “If the guys were to be making something delicious for dinner tonight, and I’m not saying they are, but if they were, would you wan—”

“Ivy,” I sob, cutting her off.

“Bailey, what’s wrong?” Her voice is urgent. “Are you okay?”

“Can you guys come get me?”

“Yes, of course. You’re still in Chicago?”

“Yeah.”

I hear her say something to the guys, then there’s a door shutting and fabric rustling.

“Bailey, do I need to call the cops?”

“No, no, it’s nothing like that.” I swipe my face with my sleeve. My cheeks are wet and freezing now, thanks to the cold. “I just need a ride. I can’t...”

“Okay. It’s okay. We’re coming. We’ll be there in—”

“Two hours and forty-two minutes, barring traffic,” I hear Kelley shout from the background.

“Two hours and forty-two minutes,” Ivy repeats. “Call me if you need anything. Will you be at the hotel?”

“I’m heading back now to get my stuff.” I sniffle and take a deep breath. “I’m not gonna stay there, though. I’ll probably go to a pub or something. I’ll text you the location.”

“Okay. We’ll be there soon.”

“Thank you.”

“Hey, B. We love you.”

“Love you back.”

I hang up as the Uber pulls up to the curb of the hotel, then rush inside. I’m shoving my last few items of clothing into my duffle when the door swings open and Riggs steps in.

“Go away,” I growl as the tears start again. “I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to see you ever again.”

“Bailey, please, it’s not at all what you think,” he pleads, and I laugh at him through my sobs.

“Are you engaged?” I ask.

“Not anymore,” he says softly. “Not for almost a year.”

I jerk my head back. “What?” I shout. “Your parents think you’re engaged, Riggs. They want you to get married soon.”

He nods. “I know. Tal and I used to be engaged, but we’re not anymore.”

“Does she know that?”

“She does, yes.”

“But your parents don’t?”

He shakes his head slowly. “No.”

“So? You’re just lying to them? Like you lied to me?”

“I never lied to you,” he insists, and it pisses me off.

“Bullshit,” I shout. “You certainly didn’t tell me the truth.” I release a shuddering breath. “Oh my god, I let you fuck me on their terrace, and they think you’re fucking engaged to another woman!”

“Sundance—”

“Don’t call me that,” I shout. I must look like a wild animal, the way he approaches me. I feel wild. Rabid. “You don’t get to call me that anymore.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, water rimming his eyes.